Enhancing the acoustoelectric conversion of a nanofiber transducer in combination with a kazoo†

Abstract

Acoustoelectric transducers are often combined with an acoustic resonator to improve their acoustoelectric performance. Previous studies have mostly been based on Helmholtz resonators, which are bulky in size and have limited improvement in acoustoelectric performance. In this study, for the first time, a kazoo, a flat miniature musical instrument, was used as an acoustic resonator to improve the acoustoelectric performance of a nanofiber acoustoelectric transducer. When a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membrane was incorporated into the kazoo as a sound vibration diaphragm, it improved the acoustoelectric output in the low-frequency sound range and allowed sound to be collected from the side of the entire device. The electrospun PVDF nanofiber membrane worked with the polymethylmethacrylate kazoo to increase the sound intensity by at least 15 decibels in the nanofiber region. Under 100 Hz, 115 dB input sound conditions, the device generated 196.0 ± 8.6 V peak-to-peak voltage and 12.0 ± 1.1 μA current outputs. The generated power was sufficient to power applications. By rethinking resonator design and exploiting the versatility of nanofibers, this work establishes a paradigm shift in acoustic energy harvesting, offering a scalable, high-efficiency alternative to conventional resonator-dependent systems.